Survey: Vast Majority of Treasury Professionals Value Their Bank Relationships
2016 AFP Liquidity Survey finds that treasurers increasingly rely on their banks for information and advice
BETHESDA, Md., July 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Relationships matter—especially in corporate treasury and finance.
According to the 2016 AFP Liquidity Survey, underwritten by State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), 90 percent of treasury and finance professionals cite their overall relationship with their bank as an important determinant when choosing a bank in which to invest their short-term cash. This is the first time in the 11 years AFP has conducted the Liquidity Survey that finance professionals have indicated their relationship with their bank plays a more important role when selecting their banking partner than the bank's credit ratings, signaling a stronger confidence in the banking industry.
In addition, 85 percent of survey respondents cited banks as resources their organizations use to access information about operating cash and short-term investment holdings. This a further endorsement to their confidence in their banking partners.
The results were drawn from 787 respondents. Full results are available at http://www.afponline.org/liquidity/.
Other key findings include:
- 71 percent of organizations with cash and short-term investment holdings outside the United States maintain most of their holdings in bank-type investments, including certificate of deposits and time deposits.
- 55 percent of corporate cash holdings are maintained at banks.
- Safety of principal continues to be a top priority among investment objectives. The share of treasury and finance professionals reporting safety as a top objective increased from 65 percent in 2015 to 68 percent in 2016.
- With the SEC ruling on money funds taking affect this October, 62 percent plan to make changes in how they invest in prime funds.
"Bank relationships continue to grow in level of strategic importance for organizations," said Jim Kaitz, president and CEO of AFP. "Bank deposits continue to hold the majority of corporate cash and short-term investments, and banks also play a role as sponsor of both onshore and offshore money market funds held by organizations."
"State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is pleased to once again partner with the AFP to sponsor the Liquidity Survey," said Yeng Felipe Butler, Head of SSGA's Global Cash Business. The second half of 2016 may prove to be one of the most challenging periods in the industry's history, and we are eager and ready to support treasurers and their organizations as they navigate this period of change."
ABOUT AFP®
Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) is the professional society that represents finance executives globally. AFP established and administers the Certified Treasury Professional and Certified Corporate FP&A Professional credentials, which set standards of excellence in finance. The quarterly AFP Corporate Cash Indicators serve as a bellwether of economic growth. The AFP Annual Conference is the largest networking event for corporate finance professionals in the world.
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SOURCE Association for Financial Professionals
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